Can-heading machine.



No. 654,257. Patented luly 24. |900.

H. c. HUNTER.

GAN HEADING MACHINE.

(Application led. July 23, 1898.)

2 Sheets-Sheet MMM 'iiinll No. 654,257. Patented-July 2'4, |900. H. C. HUNTER.

CAN HEADINGMACHINE.

(Application led July 23, 1898.)

` 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

THE Ncmms #Evans co. Phorum' HENRY C. HUNTER, OF HAMILTON, CANADA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO THE CANISTER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PHILLIPS- BURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

CAN-HEAolNie.` MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letterslatent No.654,257,"dated l'ulyk 24, 1900.

Application filed July 23. 1898. Serial No. 686,736. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY C.'IIUNTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at I-Iamilton, Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Heading Machines, of which the following' is a specilication.

My invention relates to the manufacture of packing-cans of rectangular or like shape 1o having corners, and particularly to the form of can having a fiber body, metallic heads, and a seaming-strip, as in my Patent No. 492,806, dated March 7, 1803.

My present invention concerns particularly t-he means for crimping vthe metallic heads to the fiber body, my object being to insure a perfect air-tight joint between the metallic flange of the head and the fiber body and one' in which the crimping effect of the metallic zo iiauge will be uniform on all sides and corners of the cans. For the crimping action, therefore, I use a determined spring-pressi] re for forcing the crimping-Wheels against the flange of the head, and this pressure being z5 slight at first is gradually increased up to thek point determined upon, which is suflicientto firmly unite the flange of the metallic head with the body. This feature ofv applying a predetermined yet yielding pressure in the 3o action of uniting the metallic headV with the ber body is of greater importance in the formation of fiber cans,'as byit the metal of the head is compressed into the liber body just enough to insure a perfect union of the parts,

3|; and the work is insured against damage. The

spring-pressure is removed or the crimpingwheels retracted when the crimping action is finished by positively-operating means.

For the formation of my rectangular can I 4o employ a pair of crimping-rollers on an oscillating support, both of which rollers operate on the flange of the head simultaneously.

The predetermined spring-pressure is applied to these rollers to force them against the canhead, and being thus spring-pressed and on an oscillating support they work perfectly on a can of rectangular shape, maintaining a uniformand steady contact therewith both along the sides and at the corners, and they have no tendency to jump from the can at the cor- 5o ners, as each roller of the pair inconnection with the spring-pressure controls the action of the'other roller in passing around'the corner. In connection with the crimping-rollers and therotary chucks for holding the cans of rectangular or likeicross-sectional shape I 'have provided means for compensating for yto the rollers, sov as to keep the same uniform whether the crimping-rollers are operating on the sides or at corners of the cans. In 7o connection with the rotary chucks for holding the fiber cans I employ means for applying a predetermined but yielding pressure to prevent damage to the can, said chucks being opened by positively-acting mechanism.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front View of the machine. Figs. 2 and 3 are detail views relating toY the crimping-rollers and their supports. Fig. 4 is a side View of Fig.

1. Figs. 5 and 6 are details relating to the 25o crimping-roller and upper chuck.

The fiber can having the metallic head p placed thereon ready for crimping is placed over the chuck-disk 90 on the gear-wheel 111, and this lower chuck-disk being then raised through the means hereinafter described the can, with its head, will be clamped between the said lower chuck-disk and the upper chuck-disk 89. These chuck-disks aregeared together to rotate in unison through the gears 9o 111 105 on the spindles of the lower and upper chuck-disks, respectively, and the pinions 112 and 106 on the shaft 107, which is driven through a clutch 142 from a shaft 142, driven in turn through bevel-gears 141 140 from a 95 main shaft 139, having pulleys thereon. By thus driving the chuck-disks in unison the fiber can-body will not be damaged by twistp action.

to `criin'p the metallic head is given by the spring 123, bearing at its upper end against ing. The upper chuck 89 has an undercut shoulder 113 and a substantially-vertical face 114 for receiving the metallic h'ead of the can, as in, Figs. 5 and 6.

The crimping of the metallic head onto the fiber body is done in connection with the upper chuck, the lower chuck being movable vertically and serving to hold the can against the upper chuck. Crimping-rollers 115 116 are journaled in a block 117, which is swiveled in a carriage 118, moving in ways 119, fixed to the frame of the machine. crimping-rollers act simultaneously upon the iiange of the head to force thesame rinly into contact with the ber can-body, as illustrated in Fig. 6, and they are arranged side by side in the same plane, and they are of like form, each having an inclined crimpingsurface 121, ending in an `edge 122 opposite the lower edge of the metallic flange 120. The shoulder 113 on the chuck serves to conne the upperedge of the rim of the metallic head, and under the action of the crimpingroller the ange 120 will be crimped into firm connection with the fiber body, and the original form of the upper edge of the rim will be preserved, the confining-shoulder 113, together with the bearing-face `114 and the inclined face 121 of the roller, forming a confined space in which thecrimping is done, thusserving to prevent any distortion or any irregularities from occurring in the crimpin g The forward movement of the rollers a lug 124 on the frame and at its lower end against an adjustable nut 125 on a screw-rod 126.' The upper end of the rod is connected with na bell-crank 12S', "which is connected through a link 158 with the fulcrum 159 of a lever 131. The fulcrum of this lever is carried by a swinging bracket 12W, pivoted'to the frame at 157. When the link 158'is pulled inwardly, the lever 131 will move the bar 132, and `thisthrough the jspring 133 will force forward `the carriage 118, and thus the crimping-rollers will be pressed against the iange to be crimped. i The bar 132 slides loosely in the'carriage 118, and the spring 133 is interposed between acollar 134 on the rod 132 and the rear end of the carriage 118. In action when the spring 123 is allowed to exert its force it depresses the rod 126, and through the `described connections the 'rollers are pressed against the metallic head. The spring 123 is the primary means used for pressing the crimping-rollers to their work, and the forceof this spring being accurately determinedthe pressure exerted by the crimping-rollers is just sucient to press the metal flange `into the ber body.

In` `operating `upon the body-blanks "of fibrous material it is essential that the crimp# ingpressure be accurately predetermined in` order ito prevent cuttingof theber and to secure uniformity of work, and it is also essential that this primary predetermined pres- These connect the clutch members.

the fiber can-bodies.

and the flange of the head. corners the blocks carrying the pairs of crimpsure be ofma yielding nature. This predetermined and yielding pressure I secure by means of the spring 123. In order to relieve the crimping pressure, I employ positivelyoperating mechanical means for withdrawing the force of said spring 123, consisting of a lever 135" pivoted loosely on the main shaft and connected to the rod 126 and having an arm 137, operated bya `earn-surface 137'" on a gear-wheel 46', which turns on a pin 46 and is operated by a pinion 46 on the main drivin g-shaft. After the crimping action has been performed this mechanical means will raise the rod 126, take off the pressure of the spring 123, and the crimping-rollers will then be free from pressure, though they may with their surfaces 138 bear lightly upon thev the saine backward slightly, the spring 133A yielding for thispurpose. The crimping pressure is applied gradually 'tothe crimping-rollers as the lforce of the spring 123 isjgradually exerted and applied throughthe lighter spring 133, and after this spring 133 fhas been compressed a pin 140 on the slide-bar 132 contacts with the bar 141 of 'the crimping-roller carriage, and thenthe 'fullforc'e of the spring 123 is exerted upon the carriage" to force the crimping-rollers to their work. Thlisigradual application of the spring-pressure fis iniportant, as it prevents any damage tothe material, which might occur should the crimpingrollers be forced suddenly and with `the `fu`l-l pressure against the head. A'fter the pressure has been applied andthe crimping-roll- `ers set against the`work"`the 'chucksfare set in rotation through the described gearing 'from the clutch 142/, which comprises the members 142 142 and a spring-pin 142", which Aconnects these members and is controlled to connect or disconnect 'the clutch members by la sliding `piece 146', which in oves in a bracket 146 and is operated by the cam 143 onthe `gear-wheel 46', a spring 146 being used 'to return the slide, so that the springpin may Through the described gearingthe upper and lower chucks IOO are rotated in unison 'to f'prevent twisting of The crimping-rollers, fas before stated,are

`arranged in pairsin the oscillatingiblocki1i1'7, vand by thisiarrangement and the fact that they are under pressure Athey act perfectly in connectionwith the square, oblong, or like shape cans having corners, as in 'turning the corners the movement orposi'tion of one roller lrelative to the can will be controlled by the position of the other roller, and a uniform contact will be insured between the rollers In passing the ing-rollers simply rock upon their pivots and there is no tendency of the rollers to jump from the corners of the cans. Both rollers act simultaneously upon the head, and a double crimping effect is thus secured for each revolution of the chuck, and this insures a rapid production of the work with a comparatively-slow rate of rotation of the chucks. Referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the crimping-wheels 115 116 are bearing upon the can at each side of the corner, and supposing the can to be rotating in the direction of the arrow the roller 115 will rise upon the apex or edge of the corner, and this will cause the block 117 to rock on its pivot in the direction of the arrow, and thus keep the other roller 116 against the flat side of the can, and the pressure of the roller 116 along the Hat side will be the same as the pressure exerted at the corner by the roller 115. In crimping the heads of these square or like shape cans having corners the crimping-rollers must necessarily move back and forth radially of'the cans as they work upon the fiat sides and corners thereof, and this movement should be compensated for and prevented from affecting the pressure-applying means, so that said means may be constant and uniform in its action in order that all parts of the can-head may be crimped uniformly, whether at the corners or at the sides. This compensating means is interposed between the pressureapplying spring and the carriage of the crimping-rollers, and it comprises the lever 131, before described, bearing at one end upon the slide 132 of the crimping-roller carriage and at its opposite end engaging the slide 156, moving in a guide 156 of the frame and having a roller 156l at its front end bearing upon the cam 155, which is connected with the shaft of the upperchuck. This cam is formed to compensate for the rectangular or like shape of the can, and it is so set relatively to the chuck that its high parts lie in substantially the same relative position radially of the shafts as the low parts of the chuck, or, in other words, the corners of the cam 155 are in line vertically with the iiat sides of the chuck-disk and out of line vertically with the corners. It will be seen from this that as the corners of the cans are passing the crimpingrollers and forcing them backward the flat side or low part of the cam 155 will be opposite the roller 156, so that the slide 156 may move forwardly as the crimping-roller carriage 118 moves rearwardly, the compensating-lever 131 simply rocking upon its fulcrum for this action, and as the fiat side of the can comes opposite the crimping-rollers the corner or high parts of the cam 155 will force the slide 156 rearwardly, and through the lever 131 the crimping-rollers will be kept uniformly against the flange of the head. In this compensating action the compensating lever 131 simply turns upon its pivot, but the position of this pivot or fulcrum will not be changed relatively to the connections leading to the pressure-applying means, and the backward and forward movement of the crimping-rollers in acting upon the corners and fiat sides will not affect the pressure-applying spring, and the force of this will be uniformly exerted through the fulcrum 159 and the compensating lever 131. The lower chuck-disk, with its gear-wheel, is pressed upward with a predetermined pressure exerted by the spring in the barrel 163, Fig. which bears at its upper end against the lower end of the socket 160, into which the spindle of the lower chuck is dropped, and the lower chuck is depressed to allow the operator to place the can in position by a rod 1592, connected to the socket 160 and operated through a lever 159 from a cam 159" on the gearwheel 46', the said lever having a forked end engaging pins on the collar 154,adjustably secured to the rod 159a by a set-screw 155. The socket 160 is guided in its vertical movement by pins 161, entering slots 162 in the spring barrel. The lower chuck, with its geared connection,can be adjusted vertically to suit different sizes of cans by moving the barrel 163 vertically and fixing it in the desired position by the clamp-bolt`163x, which presses together the two parts of the split bracket 163a of the frame. The screw 155 is used to set the collar 154 on the rod159 to suit the adjustment of the lower chuck.

It will be seen from the above'that all parts which act upon the can will be pressed into engagement therewith by a predetermined and yielding pressure, these parts including the chuck mechanism and the crimping mechanism, and by this the work may be carried .on without damage to the fiber can-body and the crimping will present a uniform appearance and be uniformly effective. The working parts set against the can by a predetermined spring-prcssure are retracted by the positively-acting means, as described.

My invention may be advantageously used in the making of round cans or cans with rounded sides or corners as well as cans of rectangular shape, and I do not wish to limit myself at all in this respect.

I claim- 1. Iii-combination in a machine for making cans of rectangular or like shape, means for holding such cans, a pair of crimping-rollers acting simultaneously upon the iiange of the can-head, a swiveled block carrying the pair of crimping-rollers, and yielding means for forcing the swiveled block forward to make the rollers bear simultaneously upon the canhead whereby one roller will control the position of the other roller in passing around the corner, substantially as described.

2. In combination in a can-making machine, the crimping mechanism for the heads comprising a crimping-roller, a movable support therefor, and primary means for applying a predetermined yet yielding pressure to the roller consisting of a spring having a predetermined force and connected with the roller- IIO support and positively-operating means act: ing upon said primary means for relieving thespring-pressure at the roller or for retracting the roller, substantially as described.

3. In combination in a machine for making cans, crimping mechanism comprising the pair of crimping-rollers acting simultaneously upon thecan-head and one directly in rear of the other, a swiveled block carrying the pair of rollers, and primary means for forcing the swiveled block with the rollers forward with a predetermined yet yielding pressure consisting of a spring of predetermined force in connection with the swiveled block, substantially as described.

4. In combination in a machine for forming cans, a pair of crimping-rollers adjacent to each other and acting simultaneously upon the can-head, a swiveled block'carrying the said rollers, a carriage in which the block is swiveled, a sliding bar to move in the carriage, a spring between said bar and the carriage and a primary means for setting the crimping-rollers against the can-head comprising the spring of predetermined forcewith connections between'the same and the sliding bar, the said barhavin g a part thereon to form an unyielding contact with the carriage after the interposed spring has been compressed whereby the full force of the primary spring will be active on the carriage after the spring- 6. In combinationin amachine for makingcans, a crimping-roller, means for applying a pressure thereto and a compensating means in connection with the crimping-roller and pressure-applying means, said compensating means acting to prevent the-reciprocating of the roller while passing around the can from affecting the pressure-applying means, substantially as described.

7. In combination in a machine for making cans, means for holding the cans, a crimpingroller to act on the can-head, means for applying pressure to the roller to set it to its work and a compensating lever having connection with the crimping-roller and with-the pressure-applying means, and compensating controlling means for said lever, substantially as described.

8.` In combination in a machine for making cansofrectangular or other shape, the crimping-roller to act on the can-head, means for applying'the pressure to the roller, a compensating lever in connection with the said roller at one end, a device acting as a cam for the 1 other end of the lever to keep the crimpingl roller pressed against the can and a connection between the said lever and the pressureapplying means, substantially as described.

. 9. In combination in a machine for making cans, a crimping-roller to acton the can-head,

the spring for applying pressure to the roller l a compensating means consisting of a lever in connection at one end with the crimpingroller, the device having a cam action on the other endof the leverto keep the roller pressed against the can-head and a connection from` upon theend of the lever to compensate for the shape'of the can, substantially as described.

11. In combination in a machine for making cans, the chuck for holding the can com-- prising the plate having an undercut shoulder and substantially-vertical faces 114` 114', and a crimping-wheel having a crimping-face opposite the vertical face 114 and undercut shoulder and having a face 138V opposite the face 114, substantially as described.

12. In combination in a can-makingmachine, the chuck for holding the head having uan undercut shoulder, and a substantially- Vertical face forming a corner for receiving the liange of the head and a crimping-roller having reversely-inclined faces operating in conjunction with the chuck and yielding meansto hold the roller to its work, substantially as described.

13. In combination in a machine formaliing cans, a crimping-roller, a movable support therefor, a spring forforcing the support with the roller toward the can-head to crimp the same and a cam and lever connections for relieving the pressure of the spring or retracting the crimping-roller, substantially as described.

14. In combination, the upper and lower chuck-disks, the spring for forcingthe lower chuck upwardly with a determined pressure, a cam-lever adjustably connected with the lower chuck` for retracting it, a crimpingroller, a spring having connection therewith controlling said gearinga cam and crescent* operated thereby for controlling the clutch,

IOO

rcs

IIC

the driving-shaft with connections to the clutch and a gear driven from the drivingshaft and carrying the cams, substantially as described.

15. In combination, the Crimpingroller, the movable support therefor, the spring Jfor applying a determined yet yielding pressure to the crimping-roller and the loose connection between the spring and the roller-support with a stop whereby the force of the spring will be applied at iirst gradually and then to the full extentwhen the stop is brought into action, substantially as described.

16. In combination, the chuck, the crimping-roller, a compensating lever, the shifting fulcrum and means for applying a pressure to the crimping-roller, said pressure acting through the said fulcrum, one end ofthe compensating lever being connected with the roller and the other end of the lever having a compensating action, substantially as described.

17. In combination in a can-making machine, a crimping-roller with its support or block, means for applying a pressure thereto, and compensating means in connection with the crimping-roller and pressure-applying means, said compensating means serving to prevent variations in the action of the roller from affecting the pressure-applying means, substantially as described.

18. In combination in a can-making machine, a crimping-roller, a spring for applying pressure to the roller, a compensating lever in connection with the crimping-roller at one end, and a cam acting on the other end of the said lever, the said spring-pressure being applied to the pivot of the lever inter` mediate of its en ds,substantially as described.

19. In combination, the two chucks, a primary means for forcing them together consisting of the spring, automatic positively-operating mechanism for retracting the chucks Asame automatically, the action of the rollers being timed to correspond to the automatic action of the chucks, substantially as described.

20. In combination in a machine for making cans, a means for holding the can, a crimping-roller to act on the can-head, means for forcing the crimping-roller forward t0 its work, and means for compensating for the shape of the can comprising a movable part and automatically-operating means to control the same, said compensating means being interposed between the said crimping-rollers and the pressure-applying means therefor to prevent the reciprocating movement of the crimping-roller toward and from the center of the can from being transmitted to or from affecting the pressure-applying means, substantially as described. Y

2l. In combination in a machine for making cans, a crimping-roller, means for applying a pressure thereto and a compensating means in connection with the crimping-roller and pressure-applying means, said compensating means comprising a movable partand automatically-operating means to control the same, said compensating means acting to prevent the reciprocating of the roller While passing around the can from adecting the pressure-applying means, substantially as described. In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY C. HUNTER. Vitnesses:

J. W. TERRY, H. C. GWYN. 

